Director Shareholding

Whitbread PLC
17 December 2002

                       DEALINGS BY DIRECTORS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY

    WHITBREAD PLC
    REGISTERED NO. 4120344 

2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

    DAVID MALCOLM THOMAS

3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder
    if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the
    age of 18 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

    AS ABOVE

4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

    AS ABOVE

5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

    DIRECTOR'S OWN INTEREST

6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary

    EXERCISE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION AND SALE OF SHARES

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

    21,800

8)  Percentage of issued Class

    INSIGNIFICANT

9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

    21,800

10) Percentage of issued Class

    INSIGNIFICANT

11) Class of security

    ORDINARY SHARES OF 50P

12) Price per share

    OPTION PRICE £4.5680 
    SALE PRICE £5.6050

13) Date of transaction

    16.12.02

14) Date company informed

    16.12.02

15) Total holding following this notification

    61,504

16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

    INSIGNIFICANT

     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant



18) Period during which or date on which exercisable



19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.



21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise



22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification



23) Any additional information



24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

    LIZ THORPE 01582 396097

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

    Date of Notification   17.12.02                                 


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